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 ~ ~ Sutherland's Bakery
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In 1901 John Sutherland emigrated to Canada from Scotland. He had been apprenticed to the bakery trade in his Old Country. He lived in Calgary and kept up his trade till 1906. In 1903 he married his girlfriend from home and they together lived in Calgary. They had a son, George, born in 1904. After 1906 they moved to Kelowna, and travelling with them was John Sutherland's father and his step-mother. His father's first job was with Hunter's Bakery.

In 1907, John travelled to Enderby to have a look at the bakery. He wasn't very impressed so he returned to Kelowna. In 1908, their second son Jim was born.

John soon opened his own store on Patterson Avenue in Kelowna and peddled the baking in wicker baskets. Mrs. Sutherland baked it in the kitchen stove. Later they moved their shop to Wardlaw Ave where they had two ovens and a dough mixer. But a bad fire ruined their building.

In 1927 the bakery was moved to Bernard Ave. and in 1938 the father (John Sutherland) died. Mrs. Sutherland and George continued the business until 1942 when George took over. In 1948 Mrs. Sutherland died and George sold the bakery to Hall and Hanky.

In 1932, Jim Sutherland bought the bakery in Enderby from Mr. Harvey. He had no equipment except for an oven. But he worked hard. He made 50 loaves of bread a day, 6 or 7 days a week, plus buns, cakes, etc. He also made wedding cakes for the Enderby citizens.

Jim worked until 1939 when he left with the army for World War II. Mrs. Sutherland carried on with the business alone. The baked goods came from Sutherland's Bakery in Kelowna. They were sent to Enderby on the Greyhound Bus, unwrapped, and wrapped in Enderby.

After World War II, Sutherland's Bakery was increased in size. They added a lunch room and ice cream parlour. They purchased the ice cream from Palm Dairy in Salmon Arm and kept it cold with ice blocks and salt.

A modern wood burning oven was put in, and other modern equipment was bought. At this time Sutherland's was one of the most modern bakeries in the interior of B.C. In the 1940's they delivered their baked goods to resorts along Mara and Mabel Lakes, as far north as Sicamous, and south to Oyama.

In 1950 a branch of Sutherland's was opened in Vernon. It continued until 1955. In 1956 a modern gas-oven and other equipment was installed in Enderby. Sutherland's Bakery remained independent. On Sept.1, 1972 Jim and Lil sold the bakery to Robert (Bric) and Phebe Reid of Calgary.

Donovan Imbeau, Danielle Heape
ALF School 1989